Van Rensselaer Elementary School

Q: Is Van Rensselaer Elementary School a good school?

Van Rensselaer Elementary School ranks 247 th of 1010 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Van Rensselaer Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades 3-5 in Rensselaer, Indiana, with 321 students and a student-teacher ratio of 15.4. The school is part of the Rensselaer Central School Corp district, which is ranked 63 out of 381 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Van Rensselaer Elementary consistently outperforms the state and district averages on ILEARN assessments, with 50.48% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 60.77% proficient in math, significantly higher than the district's 49.52% and 53.33% respectively. The school also has a higher percentage of minority students at 14.02%, including 10.59% Hispanic and 1.25% African American, compared to nearby Rensselaer Central Primary School. While the school's chronic absenteeism rate has increased from 7.8% to 14.0% in recent years, it remains lower than the 21.3% rate at Rensselaer Central Primary.

Van Rensselaer Elementary's consistent academic growth, outperforming the district, and diverse student population make it a standout school in the region. The school has moved up in the statewide rankings from 394 out of 1,031 Indiana elementary schools in 2018-2019 to 247 out of 1,010 in 2023-2024, a testament to its effective teaching and learning strategies. With a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at 52.34% compared to 55.44% at Rensselaer Central Primary, Van Rensselaer Elementary is serving a community with unique needs and providing a high-quality education.

Detail:

Public 3-5

902 E Washington
Rensselaer, IN 47978

(219) 866-8212

District: Rensselaer Central School Corp

SchoolDigger Rank:
247^th of 1,010 Indiana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,069

Students who attend Van Rensselaer Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Rensselaer Central Middle School
High:	Rensselaer Central High School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.4

Number of students: 321

Racial breakdown:

White:

86.0%

Hispanic:

10.6%

African American:

1.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 52.3%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare Van Rensselaer Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Van Rensselaer Elementary School ranks better than 75.5% of elementary schools in Indiana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 74.24. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (86%), Hispanic (10.6%), African American (1.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 52.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Van Rensselaer Elementary School is 15.4. (See more...)

Compare Van Rensselaer Elementary School employs 20.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Van Rensselaer Elementary School is $9,069.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Van Rensselaer Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Rensselaer Central School Corp:

SchoolDigger ranks Rensselaer Central School Corp 68^th of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Van Rensselaer Elementary School.

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Rank History for Van Rensselaer Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IN State Percentile
2005	36.68	707^th	959	26.3%
2006	32.57	742^nd	961	22.8%
2007	35.19	740^th	985	24.9%
2008	46.06	646^th	996	35.1%
2009	52.19	569^th	1003	43.3%
2010	48.58	617^th	1009	38.9%
2011	53.33	579^th	1025	43.5%
2012	54.98	538^th	1015	47.0%
2013	53.36	578^th	1035	44.2%
2014	60.10	472^nd	1036	54.4%
2015	62.76	414^th	1040	60.2%
2016	59.97	473^rd	1046	54.8%
2017	53.73	552^nd	1033	46.6%
2018	56.78	494^th	1027	51.9%
2019	62.72	394^th	1031	61.8%
2021	79.81	172^nd	1016	83.1%
2022	79.58	178^th	1020	82.5%
2023	81.10	171^st	1016	83.2%
2024	74.24	247^th	1010	75.5%

See the entire list of Indiana Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Indiana Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Saturday, August 4, 2018

Terrible school. Finally we got to move thank god. My children had so many issues with bullying it was unreal. I have so much to say, but no time to say. Do not send children to these schools. Rensselaer all over has become Meth city. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Van Rensselaer Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	414	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	417
1989	419	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	420
1990	392	0	0	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	400
1991	367	0	0	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	374
1992	391	0	0	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	399
1993	370	0	0	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	378
1994	507	0	1	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	514
1995	535	1	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	539
1996	535	1	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	539
1997	526	1	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	532
1998	527	1	0	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	537
1999	541	0	0	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	548
2000	519	0	0	10	0	n/a	n/a	0	529
2001	492	0	1	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	502
2002	506	2	0	14	0	n/a	n/a	0	522
2003	506	2	0	14	0	n/a	n/a	0	522
2004	505	5	1	16	0	n/a	n/a	0	527
2005	497	0	0	21	0	n/a	n/a	0	518
2006	508	1	0	20	0	n/a	n/a	0	529
2007	479	0	1	21	0	n/a	n/a	17	518
2008	487	1	3	23	0	n/a	n/a	13	527
2009	495	0	3	28	0	n/a	n/a	16	542
2010	500	3	2	26	0	n/a	n/a	22	553
2011	461	4	1	24	1	0	19	0	510
2012	429	4	0	34	0	0	13	0	480
2013	304	1	0	21	0	0	6	0	332
2014	287	1	1	28	0	0	8	0	325
2015	304	1	0	34	0	0	6	0	345
2016	307	1	1	44	1	0	8	0	362
2017	284	0	0	50	1	0	10	0	345
2018	273	0	1	44	2	0	10	0	330
2019	259	1	1	48	2	0	9	0	320
2020	268	2	1	46	0	0	11	0	328
2021	257	3	1	39	1	0	9	0	310
2022	293	1	1	44	1	0	7	0	347
2023	276	4	2	34	1	0	4	0	321

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Van Rensselaer Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	417	18.6	22.4	19.9
1989	420	17.6	23.8	22.9
1990	400	17.1	23.3	17.3
1991	374	17.1	21.8	16.6
1992	399	18.0	22.1	27.8
1993	378	16.2	23.3	25.4
1994	514	28.4	18.1	23.3
1995	539	28.2	19.1	21.2
1996	539	28.2	19.1	21.2
1997	532	28.2	18.9	21.1
1998	537	28.4	18.9	25
1999	548	30.4	18.0	32.7
2000	529	30.4	17.4	35
2001	502	30.6	16.4	37.5
2002	522	31.5	16.6	38.1
2003	522	31.5	16.6	38.1
2004	527	31.5	16.7	37.2
2005	518	30.9	16.8	36.5
2006	529	30.7	17.2	39.7
2007	518	n/a	n/a	44.3
2008	527	33.1	15.9	45.7
2009	542	33.0	16.4	53.2
2010	553	31.0	17.8	60.6
2011	510	27.3	18.6	56.3
2012	480	28.0	17.1	58.5
2013	332	21.0	15.8	53.6
2014	325	21.0	15.4	50.8
2015	345	19.0	18.1	55.1
2016	362	22.0	16.4	54.1
2017	345	23.0	15.0	53
2018	330	21.0	15.6	52.7
2019	320	19.0	16.8	57.2
2020	328	20.0	16.4	53.7
2021	310	22.0	14.0	48.4
2022	347	21.0	16.5	40.9
2023	321	20.8	15.4	52.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Van Rensselaer Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	417	18.6	22.4	19.9
1989	420	17.6	23.8	22.9
1990	400	17.1	23.3	17.3
1991	374	17.1	21.8	16.6
1992	399	18.0	22.1	27.8
1993	378	16.2	23.3	25.4
1994	514	28.4	18.1	23.3
1995	539	28.2	19.1	21.2
1996	539	28.2	19.1	21.2
1997	532	28.2	18.9	21.1
1998	537	28.4	18.9	25
1999	548	30.4	18.0	32.7
2000	529	30.4	17.4	35
2001	502	30.6	16.4	37.5
2002	522	31.5	16.6	38.1
2003	522	31.5	16.6	38.1
2004	527	31.5	16.7	37.2
2005	518	30.9	16.8	36.5
2006	529	30.7	17.2	39.7
2007	518	n/a	n/a	44.3
2008	527	33.1	15.9	45.7
2009	542	33.0	16.4	53.2
2010	553	31.0	17.8	60.6
2011	510	27.3	18.6	56.3
2012	480	28.0	17.1	58.5
2013	332	21.0	15.8	53.6
2014	325	21.0	15.4	50.8
2015	345	19.0	18.1	55.1
2016	362	22.0	16.4	54.1
2017	345	23.0	15.0	53
2018	330	21.0	15.6	52.7
2019	320	19.0	16.8	57.2
2020	328	20.0	16.4	53.7
2021	310	22.0	14.0	48.4
2022	347	21.0	16.5	40.9
2023	321	20.8	15.4	52.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Van Rensselaer Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,198 (13.0%)	$8,002 (87.0%)	$9,200
2020	$423 (4.8%)	$8,404 (95.2%)	$8,828
2021	$578 (6.1%)	$8,884 (93.9%)	$9,462
2022	$746 (8.2%)	$8,323 (91.8%)	$9,069

Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Van Rensselaer Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 394^th of 1031 Elementary schools	Ranks 171^st of 1016 Elementary schools	21.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)	51.2	52.8	1.6%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Rensselaer Central School Corp)	51.2	52.8	1.6%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	46.3	39.7	6.6%
3rd Grade Math (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)	54.7	61.8	7.1%
3rd Grade Math (Rensselaer Central School Corp)	54.7	61.8	7.1%
3rd Grade Math (Indiana)	58.7	53.1	5.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)	56.4	55.1	1.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Rensselaer Central School Corp)	56.4	55.1	1.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	45.8	40.3	5.5%
4th Grade Math (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)	54.7	63.3	8.6%
4th Grade Math (Rensselaer Central School Corp)	54.7	63.3	8.6%
4th Grade Math (Indiana)	54	48.8	5.2%
4th Grade Science (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)	52.1	48.6	3.5%
4th Grade Science (Rensselaer Central School Corp)	52.1	48.6	3.5%
4th Grade Science (Indiana)	46.3	37	9.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)	53.8	67	13.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Rensselaer Central School Corp)	53.8	67	13.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	47.5	40.2	7.3%
5th Grade Math (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)	49.5	64.2	14.7%
5th Grade Math (Rensselaer Central School Corp)	49.5	64.2	14.7%
5th Grade Math (Indiana)	47.8	41.1	6.7%
5th Grade Social Studies (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)	50.5	45	5.5%
5th Grade Social Studies (Rensselaer Central School Corp)	50.5	45	5.5%
5th Grade Social Studies (Indiana)	46	39.1	6.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	320	321	0.3%
African American	1	4	300%
American Indian	2	1	50%
Asian	1	2	100%
Hispanic	48	34	29.2%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	259	276	6.6%
Two or More Races	9	4	55.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	57.2%	52.3%	4.9%

Schools Near Van Rensselaer Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ILEARN English Language Arts (2024)					ILEARN Math (2024)					ILEARN Social Studies (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ILEARN English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 4th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 5th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 6th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts All Grades	ILEARN Math 3rd Grade	ILEARN Math 4th Grade	ILEARN Math 5th Grade	ILEARN Math 6th Grade	ILEARN Math All Grades	ILEARN Social Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Van Rensselaer Elementary School	Public	3-5	902 E Washington	Rensselaer	47978	Jasper County	Rensselaer Central School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 866-8212	321	21	15.4	52.3%	276 (86.0%)	4 (1.2%)	34 (10.6%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.2%)	74.2	247^th of 1010 public elementary schools	75.5%		81.1	171^st of 1016 public elementary schools	83.2%	76	45.3	49.0	56.9		50.5	58.5	59.4	64.2		60.8	38.5	$9,069	$746	$8,323
Rensselaer Central Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	1144 N Melville St	Rensselaer	47978	Jasper County	Rensselaer Central School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 866-5441	386	25	15.7	55.4%	317 (82.1%)	2 (0.5%)	52 (13.5%)	3 (0.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.6%)								(n/a)												$9,500	$1,384	$8,116
Tri-County Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	300 E Michigan St	Remington	47977	Jasper County	Tri-County School Corporation	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 261-2214	209	12	16.9	35.4%	183 (87.6%)	1 (0.5%)	16 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.3%)								(n/a)												$11,372	$546	$10,826
Tri-County Intermediate School	Public	3-6	200 W North	Wolcott	47995	White County	Tri-County School Corporation	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 279-2138	227	16	13.9	41.0%	197 (86.8%)	2 (0.9%)	17 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	10 (4.4%)	54.4	476^th of 1010 public elementary schools	52.9%		61	404^th of 1016 public elementary schools	60.2%	72	47.3	42.0	32.7	28.1	37.5	67.3	60.9	32.7	32.8	48.6	27.3	$10,565	$610	$9,955
West Central Elementary School	Public	K-6	1842 S Us 421	Francesville	47946	Pulaski County	West Central School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 567-9741	325	18	17.7	61.5%	285 (87.7%)	1 (0.3%)	22 (6.8%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.0%)	29.2	738^th of 1010 public elementary schools	26.9%		49.7	543^rd of 1016 public elementary schools	46.6%	195	20.8	30.2	23.0	15.6	23.1	34.0	28.3	29.5	46.9	33.2	26.2	$11,739	$1,092	$10,647
North White Elementary School	Public	K-5	304 E Broadway St	Monon	47959	White County	North White School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 253-6663	433	23	18.8	83.4%	209 (48.3%)	1 (0.2%)	212 (49.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.5%)	18.2	833^rd of 1010 public elementary schools	17.5%		24.1	781^st of 1016 public elementary schools	23.1%	52	22.1	15.1	16.2		17.7	39.7	26.0	12.2		25.6	20.6	$8,472	$868	$7,604
South Newton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	13188 S 50 E	Kentland	47951	Newton County	South Newton School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 474-5167	416	31	13.4	68.3%	338 (81.3%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (16.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	6 (1.4%)	54.7	474^th of 1010 public elementary schools	53.1%		52	515^th of 1016 public elementary schools	49.3%	41	26.3	30.0	43.1		32.8	48.7	43.3	56.9		49.8	52.3	$11,116	$1,498	$9,618
Morocco Elementary School	Public	K-6	310 S Lincoln	Morocco	47963	Newton County	North Newton School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 285-2258	139	11	13.1	63.3%	110 (79.1%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (14.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (6.5%)	36.4	664^th of 1010 public elementary schools	34.3%		38.4	651^st of 1016 public elementary schools	35.9%	13	31.3	30.8	10.5	31.3	25.0	62.5	53.9	15.8	31.3	39.1	21.1	$11,941	$830	$11,111
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	K-6	10280 N 450 E	Roselawn	46310	Jasper County	North Newton School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 345-3458	268	18	15.2	58.6%	224 (83.6%)	1 (0.4%)	38 (14.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.1%)	56.9	448^th of 1010 public elementary schools	55.6%		57.3	453^rd of 1016 public elementary schools	55.4%	5	35.7	36.7	47.5	37.1	39.5	54.8	30.0	42.5	37.1	42.2	50.0	$9,370	$981	$8,389
Kankakee Valley Intermediate School	Public	4-5	12345 N 550 W	Wheatfield	46392	Jasper County	Kankakee Valley School Corp	No	No	No	No	(219) 987-2027	464	28	16.8	50.0%	383 (82.5%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (15.7%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.3%)	70.1	297^th of 1010 public elementary schools	70.6%		70	303^rd of 1016 public elementary schools	70.2%	6		53.0	46.9		50.0		60.3	45.6		53.0	38.6	$9,004	$490	$8,514

Frequently Asked Questions about Van Rensselaer Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Van Rensselaer Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Van Rensselaer Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Rensselaer Central Middle School
High : Rensselaer Central High School

What is the racial makeup of Van Rensselaer Elementary School?

Students at Van Rensselaer Elementary School are 86% White, 11% Hispanic, 1% African American, 1% Two or more races.

How many students attend Van Rensselaer Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 321 students attended Van Rensselaer Elementary School.

Is Van Rensselaer Elementary School a good school?

Van Rensselaer Elementary School ranks 247^th of 1010 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Van Rensselaer Elementary School in?

Rensselaer Central School Corp

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Indiana Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.